Volunteers Needed

Shor-Term Volunteers

Congregational Care Team Needs You
However you may receive God’s call, please join our Congregational Care Team to enable us to become a more loving, caring congregation.

Bereavement Team
Provides love, nurture, and support when a member of FUMC dies or when family of a FUMC member passes away. Team members offer a meal in the days immediately following the death or a reception for a memorial or funeral service. These efforts are co-ordinated with the church, the family, and possibly a Sunday School class.
For more information, please contact Janie Boyle at janieboyle1@gmail.com or 322-9447.

Care Callers*
The Care Callers Ministry volunteers make monthly visits to those of the church family who are in assisted living or nursing facilities. The volunteers will be committing to about two hours a month to let these members and friends know that their church family has not forgotten them. Following the visits, you are asked to report any needs back to the Care Coordinator, Marijo Hartman. Would you like to make someone’s day special? If you are interested in volunteering for Care Callers Ministry, please contact Kathy Garth at kathy_garth@grandecom.net or 266-6249.

Faith In Action Caregivers-West Austin
Provide transportation and support services for senior adults to enhance their ability to continue to live independently. Volunteer opportunities are at your convenience. You are not obligated to a day or time.

For more information, please contact Pat Rosenblad-Nolen at patrarose@austin.rr.com or 443-4212 or Martha Stuber at mstuber@austin.rr.com 463-2627.

FUMC Neighbors by the Lake
Provides a “neighborhood community” for members who live in the northwest area to better get to know each other and provide assistance where needed.
For more information please contact Mary Bray at mtcole2@cs.com or 632-2275.

Homebound Ministry*
Visits members monthly who live dependently but are no longer able to attend Sunday School or church. (Requires maximum several hours one day each month.)
For more information, please contact Martha Stuber at mstuber@austin.rr.com 463-2627.

Hospital Visitation Ministry*
The Hospital Visitation Ministry Team members visit members and extended family of First Church who are in the hospital Monday through Friday, excluding holidays. The time required is several hours once per month. After each hospital visit, the visitor will submit updates to the Care Coordinator, Marijo Hartman. If you are interested in volunteering for the Hospital Visitation Ministry Team, please contact Jan Ashmos at jabc1129@yahoo.com or 527-0129 or Amy Hurt at hurtamy@gmail.comor 560-8726.

“Knit Wits” Prayer Shawl Ministry*
Provides shawls which are knitted by this group and mailed to members or to individuals requested by FUMC members. (If interested, they will teach you how to knit!)
For more information, please contact Carol Dickerson at imcookietoo@gmail.com or 345-0619.

Mental Health Ministry
Provides information/referrals to connect individuals to appropriate resources.
For more information, please contact Donna Poole at dpoole@austin.rr.com or 453-3845.

Prayer Callers Ministry*
Provides weekly telephone contact with individuals who offered prayer concerns the prior Sunday. (Volunteers make 4-5 weekly calls.)
For more information, please contact Dean Cluck at BlueBonnetQueen@austin.rr.com or 440-0142.

Recovery Ministry*
This ministry is in the process of being organized and will meet regularly to offer love and support to those who have an addiction.
If interested in helping organize and/or participating in this ministry, please contact Marilyn Bettis at mmmonroe@austin.rr.com or 343-2361.

Special Events Ministry*
Schedules one-day trips and plans to include other activities of interest. (Time required depends on number and type of planned activities.)
For more information, please contact please contact Marilyn Bettis at mmmonroe@austin.rr.com or 343-2361.

Special Friends Ministry*
Provides support to members who are not a part of another group or who have special needs that fall outside the normal ministry activities. This ministry responds only at the request of John or Mimi. (Time required as need arises.)
For more information, please contact Penny Appleby at penny.appleby@sbcglobal.com or 306-8936.

Stephen Ministry
Provides confidential one-on-one Christian care to hurting members. (Time required depends on each individual case. Training is required.)
For more information, please contact Cheryl Etie at cheryl@printgraphics.com or 750-2195.

Well Wishers Ministry*
Provides telephone contact with members who have been released from the hospital, those who are taking treatments for cancer, those who have lost a loved one, etc. (Maximum four to five calls a week.)
For more information, please contact Barbara Guest at barbaraguest1@gmail.com or 465-2989.

United Methodist Women (UMW)
Provides spiritual growth, mission education, direct service and advocacy for the needs of women, children, and youth internationally.
To learn about the seven existing circles, please contact Kim Pryor at kimpryor@austin.rr.com or 505-8806.

*Ministries that are in dire need of volunteers.

Long-Term Volunteers

Faith in Action Caregivers–West Austin
First Chruch recently joined a coalition of 15 congregations to support Faith in Action Caregivers–West Austin, and we are in dire need of volunteer drivers from First Church!

The mission of the coalition is to enhance the independence of individuals age 60 and over. (About 800,000 elderly people quit driving in the United States each year.) Services are provided at no cost to the client and include: transportation to medical appointments, shopping, and other destinations; picking up prescriptions and other needed items; involving clients through personal visits, telephone calls and social programs to avoid isolation and loneliness; minor home repairs (like replacing light bulbs); and helping to find needed community resources and services.

The program provides very flexible scheduling. As a volunteer driver you are not committing to a certain day each week, a certain time of the day, etc. You tell the staff what works best for you–every two weeks, once a month, preferably Tuesdays, etc. To become a volunteer driver, please contact the First Church Co-Chairs for this ministry, Pat Rosenblad-Nolen (patrarose@austin.rr.com) or call her at 443-4212.

Note: Volunteers are not paid – not because they are worthless, but because they are priceless!

Mobile Loaves & Fishes
We continue to build teams. Right now, First Church has fourteen teams. Are you on one of them? That means on fourteen nights our church feeds approximately 75 meals to the brothers and sisters in need. With the help of First Baptist Church and St. Martin’s Lutheran Church, our Downtown Alliance truck leaves our church on a total of twenty-three nights a month. We want to continue to grow until each night is covered every month. It only involves an hour or an hour-and-a-half each month. To volunteer or for more information, please contact Fay Brown at faybrown6998@att.net or 892-3386.

Sunday Receptionist

• Team: Sunday Morning Office
• Time Commitment: 2 1/2 hours/month
• Tasks involved: Receving telephone calls, assisting members and visitors with questions, directions, or special Sunday morning needs.
• Contact: 478-4584